31 activists injured in Israeli raid on Gaza aid flotilla, group says
The Global Sumud Flotilla committee reported that 31 activists were injured during Israel’s interception of the Gaza-bound aid flotilla in international waters. Detainees were allegedly subjected to ill-treatment aboard an Israeli naval vessel for nearly 40 hours, including denial of food and water, forced sleeping on wet floors, and physical assaults.
At least 31 activists sustained injuries during Israel’s interception of the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters, the organizing committee said in a statement. The injured include activists from multiple countries: four each from New Zealand and Australia; three each from Italy and the United States; two each from Canada, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, Colombia, and Germany; and one each from Hungary, Ukraine, France, Poland, and Portugal. One of the injured holds dual Turkish-German citizenship, and efforts are ongoing to identify three other passengers.
Alleged ill-treatment
In a separate statement, the committee alleged that activists detained during the interception were subjected to ill-treatment aboard an Israeli naval vessel for nearly 40 hours. Detainees were deliberately denied sufficient water and food and forced to sleep on wet floors. The group also said that participants who resisted the detention of Saif Abukeshek, a Spanish national of Palestinian origin, and Brazilian citizen Thiago Avila were met with force by Israeli soldiers. One activist described the incident: “As you can see, my nose is probably broken. My ribs hurt; maybe they are broken, too. I’m not sure. My neck as well. They kicked us, punched us, and dragged us on the ground, and we even heard shots being fired at people.”
Flotilla mission and Gaza context
The Global Sumud flotilla was attacked Thursday near the Greek island of Crete, 600 nautical miles from its destination—blockaded Gaza. The first ships left Barcelona on April 12, and the main fleet sailed from Sicily on April 26. Israel has imposed a crippling blockade on Gaza since 2007, and a two-year Israeli offensive that began in October 2023 has killed over 72,000 Palestinians, injured more than 172,000, and caused massive destruction. For Türkiye, which has condemned the interception as “piracy” and received 59 activists in Istanbul, the allegations of injuries and mistreatment add urgency to Ankara’s calls for an international investigation. Turkish prosecutors have launched an inquiry into the incident.
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